A new study says ICE detained 13,377 people in the Rio Grande Valley from October 2022 to March 2026. ICE deported 10,142 of them.

The Caminos Institute wrote it. It is a Valley group. The records came from the Deportation Data Project. It covers four counties. They are Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy and Starr.

The pace jumped in 2025. ICE detained 5,087 people in those four counties that year. The study says that is about 413 a month. That is one person every two hours. Of those detained in 2025, 86.3 percent were deported. In 2023 and 2024, it was 68.3 percent.

Most of the people were men. Half were 36 or younger. At least 118 were kids under 18.

The group also tried to count the cost. It says the Valley lost more than 9,000 workers. It says the Valley lost about $180 million in spending. That is an estimate, not a bill. The author says his formula was cautious. Another gave over $200 million, he says.

The study says building slowed by 30 to 40 percent. It says some home builders saw sales fall by as much as 50 percent.

On Saturday, a Valley newspaper editorial board said the toll is wide. The board says fewer workers means fewer homes built. It says that pushes home prices up. It says farmers cannot find enough field workers. It says some shrimp boats stayed in port.

The board also says fear keeps families home. It says church and school attendance has dropped. It says Texas pays schools by attendance. So it says some districts lost money. It says some closed schools or put off projects. The editorial gives no numbers for these claims.

The board added a point. It wrote that illegal immigration "is a major concern and it must be addressed." It says many would likely use the legal way if they trusted it. It wants leaders to fix rules that do "more harm than good."

The U.S. government sees it another way. On Sept. 25, Homeland Security said ICE arrested people convicted of murder, sexual assault and robbery. It calls them the worst of the worst.

Markwayne Mullin, the Homeland Security chief, said, "ICE will never stop enforcing the law, deporting illegal aliens, and protecting the American people." That news release was about arrests across the nation. It did not name the Valley or this study.

One big question is still open. The editorial does not say how many of the 10,142 had a criminal record. The study's author doubts they were all criminals. He also says enforcement is needed to fight crime.

Local leaders say the fear is real. Sister Norma Pimentel leads Catholic Charities in the Valley. She says families are afraid to take part in its programs. "It's completely disrupting our way of life for all of us," she said.

New data for April to August 2026 is out. The group will study it. Its author expects higher numbers.

El Tejano reported in August on a different study. It found the Valley hit hard by deportations. Read that story here: https://www.eltejanorgv.com/ice-tax-valley-pays-the-highest-price-in-texas-for-mass-deportations/